Bad Dog Theatre

Came for a Cloud Comedy show, which we really enjoyed — both the comedians and the sketch group were great. Drinks were reasonably priced. The space wasn’t ideal though — the hallway leading to the theatre is so narrow that when people are waiting for the doors to open, it’s almost impossible for others passing through on the way to the washrooms to avoid jostling people and spilling their drinks. There’s kind of a ‘1 drink during the show’ rule due simply to space design as well — unless you’re sitting at the back of the section closest to the door, you need to walk down a spotlit aisle and between the audience and the comic to go back out to the bar — which feels kind of rude (and must really impact their bar revenue!)

I had a good time at Bad Dog Theatre! To give some context, I came out to their 9:30pm «Throwdown» which is an improv show they hold on the first Saturday of every month. Throughout the show the actors had throwdowns against each other — think of it as a rap battle, but for improv. They took suggestions from the audience and incorporated them into short skits on the spot, which was very clever. I won’t give spoilers in this review, only suggest that you go see it for yourself! Tickets are very reasonably priced too at ~$ 12/​person, including transaction fees and taxes when purchased online.
They do have a very large, diverse cast (though they are not all pictured) for a small local production, and they played to the strengths of the diversity they had. As well, when such topics as «income inequality» were suggested by the audience, the cast worked with the touchy subject on the spot to provide a feel-​good message, which I was very impressed by. I also liked that they didn’t directly bring up people onto the stage to volunteer, which would probably take away from the quality of improv and make them uncomfortable (this is all held in a cozy room with a smaller crowd).
A tip I have is to arrive only 5 – 10 minutes before a show begins, unless you want to pre-​drink before the show at the bar. If you’re there just for the show, there isn’t much of a waiting space so it’s best to arrive close to showtime. I believe the bar is open until late also, so you can go for drinks afterwards if you want, and chat with the actors who stick around afterwards!

Absolutely love the space! Because it’s improv, it’s hard to judge the quality of the show (the one I saw was pretty hilarious), but the bar is cozy and the size of the theatre is perfect for a real intimate improv experience.

Intimate venue. Intimate shows.
Is it funny? That’s up to you. They have a plethora of improv and sketch shows which are quite different, and always changing.
When it comes to comedy, I personally prefer stand up. However, I’ve seen a few shows at Bad Dog and they were excellent. They were all interesting, and often hilarious.
If you mention improv, most people in Toronto will think of Second City. The truth is that Bad Dog has many of the elite improvisers that came up through Second City, and I would argue that Bad Dog is a better venue.
I think Bad Dog’s venue is perfect for improv. The venue itself is basically just a small room. Seating is weird… there are 2 rows which sit stage left and run the entire length of the stage.
That row of seating was pretty strange for stand up. Some of the stand up performers felt surrounded and they were thrown off by it. This added some intentional /​unintentional comedy due to awkwardness.
For Improv, the strange seating is perfect. Improv has always been interactive, so being surrounded by seating gives the feeling that the audience is immersed in the act.
Bad Dog offers a full range of classes, lead by the best improvisers in the city.
Inject some random fun into your life:
BTW Don’t be tempted by the nearby McDonalds. There is a 24 hour Portuguese bakery a couple blocks west of the theatre.

Pour les amateurs de troupe de théâtre locales, le Bad Dog Theatre accueille les artites torontois pour du stand up comedy ou du burlesque voire vaudeville comme on dit chez nous.
Pour 15 $ l’heure vous pourrez découvrir les jeunes talents de la scèné torontoise.
On apprécie de pouvoir boire sa bière pendant le spectacle servie dans des boites metalliques de 6 bouteilles ^^

The theatre is amazing. It is intimate with good acoustics and there is always a solid line up of talent. The city has a great roster of improvisers and comedians and this is an excellent venue to see them perform.

I am honestly in love with this theatre. Time and time again, I see the best talents at every single night and show.
It’s like…
If you ran out of things to do, come here.
Just come.
Seriously
I’ve never been to a «bad» show
Every show is amazing, so funny, such a great crowd. Toronto improvisers are so talented and, no pressure but they’re, funny.
I love every night I visit. It’s silly maybe because I was also the «chosen» audience for tonight for an improv show called Hook Up.
So I’ve seen King’s Cup*, a graduating show (featuring Sam from Second City receptionist haha), Striprov**, Hook Up***, and:
I dropped in for an improv class. Tony F actually did his improv classes here. Unfortunately your improv class depends on both your classmates and your teacher. I liked the drop-​in teacher at Bad Dog but I liked my Improv A teacher (at Second City) much, much more (her name is Lisa Merchant)
===============THE SHOWS
*King’s Cup — improvisers are Charlene Roth, Carly Watt, Brody Trottier, Jaime Auron, Jayson San Miguel. In this show, improvisers create lots of 5-​minute scenes. In-​between the acts, they pour SOMEthing into a bucket. At the end of the show, improvisers with the most audience cheers (winners) drink the bucket. The bucket may include beer, pop, instant noodles, hot sauce, and air kisses.
**Striprov — hosted by Allysin Chaynes the drag queen. And her sidekick Baby BelBel. I have so many good things to say about them both. In this show, improvisers are divided by gender –boys vs. girls. In every scene, they create a scene relating to removing an article of clothing (the first scene is about removing shoes and socks, second scene is about the top, third the pants, fourth reveals the underwear). In the fourth, they reveal a «creative» underwear (that the improvisers actually designed), it’s ridiculous and hilarious.
***Hook Up — Conor Bradbury, Christy Bruce, Jess Bryson, Nigel Downer, Alastair Forbes, Jen Goodhue, Evany Rosen. Paul Bates directs the show, but he also performs in it. He’s fantastic. This is a long-​form improv show, revolving around two single-​status audience (typically a single man and a single woman). The improvisers build a story (intro to characters, problem, climax, and conclude with the two hooking up). They ask the two audience members questions like, «how does your best friend describe you? what’s your pick-​up line? what’s your occupation?» for example, my gay, emotional best friend calls me ratchet, but the improvisers heard me say «rat shit.» So my gay, crying friend, ratchet, and rat shit were all in the scenes.
===============CONCLUSION
On an evening where, the Toronto Elite Kathy H, I need to make the plans, I’d take my friends here. Easy. Never been disappointed. I find the shows here are more «wild» (as you can read above, it’s inappropriate to talk about a show at «work settings»), I feel that the improvisers at this theatre hardly ever hold back. It’s good to see non-​pretentious Toronto people!
Thanks for existing!!! Love you Toronto xoxo
Cash only
Beers on tap are: Sleeman, Soporo, some other stuff. I usually just get the Sleeman
For nights when you’re not feeling a show, the bar is always opened. It’s quite small an area especially when the show audience comes flooding out, standing around. There are tables, thank goodness. But when there are THAT many people, the tables are actually the most annoying. I hear this location is already bigger than its last :)
Badly-​planned guy’s urinal lol. You’re standing Back To Back.
Face To Face
shake your partner’s hand and change your place

Full disclosure: I’m a local comedian and improviser, and I’ve often performed over the past 4 years at the Bad Dog Theatre. That said, I don’t get paid to perform there, and that’s kind of what I love about the place.
The Bad Dog Theatre is one of my favourite things about Toronto. Located steps from Broadview Subway Station, the theatre serves as one of the main hubs for improvisational comedy in Toronto. Frankly, in Canada. On any night at the theatre you can expect to see a healthy mixture of up and coming improv comedians performing with some of the city’s best improvisers (for instance, several members of the core cast swept the recent 2009 Canadian Comedy Awards).
One of my favourite things about this theatre is the inclusiveness. Almost anyone who wants to try their hand at improv can get involved in some way at the theatre: from their free drop-​in classes on Saturdays, to the student shows through the week, and Thursday open improv jam. There are also workshops and classes, taught by some of the theatre’s best performers. Contrast that with the weekend shows headlined by some of Toronto’s finest improvisers, and you’re sure to be entertained (for a lot less than the price of a movie ticket, too).
Don’t let the Theatre’s shopfront appearance fool you — it may seem unassuming from the outside, but all of the energy is onstage (where it counts). It’s unfortunate that the theatre isn’t large enough to accommodate a kitchen, but the shows more than make up for it (and the neighbourhood is full of pubs and eateries).
The Bad Dog is a vital part of the Toronto Comedy community, and just keeps growing year after year. Their lineup of shows is always changing, so it’s a good idea to check the website or online listings to see what sounds good before going (Theatresports, on Friday or Saturday, is a good first time bet).

A precious spot for Toronto’s comedy community, Bad Dog is a great place to go to check out a show, try your hand at comedy, or take classes in improv or stand up. I’ve never attended classes at Bad Dog, but I have had the pleasure of attending several comedy shows, and they have always been a fun time.
With a rotating lineup of new and regular themed improv shows, any given night of the week will find you an inexpensive and fun night out at Bad Dog. I always recommend people switch things up from the usual dinner/​drinks/​movie circuit and take a date out to a comedy show here. I also suggest you check out shows first if you’re thinking of taking classes, too.
I find that it’s really easy to get locked in a cycle of the same nights out at the same pubs and restaurants, but one of the brilliant things about comedy shows at Bad Dog is not only are they cheap but as they are mostly improvised you can go to the same show and experience an entirely different performance every time. If you haven’t dipped your toes into the comedy scene, Bad Dog is a fun and friendly first try.

im only writing this review from the perspective of a patron and performer and not a student of the bad dog. ive performed here a couple of times. the dressing room is spacious enough for a large cast of folks, say 8 perhaps comfortably and its covered with posters from previous shows which gives it its own history and flair.
Through black curtains performers come onto a very small stage, painted all in black that lends itself well to setless acts, specifically improv. ive seen a few things here and they have been enjoyable, but i dont know that i can associate that with the bad dog itself, as the space can be rented out like any other.
if i go there, i go there for the act. you can grab a chocolate bar or some water, maybe even a pop and seat yourself in a tiered audience of about 60 seats and usually have your view blocked slightly by someones head. but you likely wont pay a lot to go in and you could see some super stuff.
so if the show tickles your fancy, the bare bones is well worth the time spent.

For ages, the only place that you could get an established theatre designed for improv was Second City (
). As well, if you wanted to learn improv outside of a community group, you pretty much had to go to the Second City Training Centre (
) to learn the craft of improv. Well, didn’t Bad Dog Theatre start up and mess all that up.
Not necessarily a splinter faction as much as a new creative, Bad Dog Theatre is a performance space as well as an educational venue, allowing you to take improv courses and learn the craft of improv. Instructors are very knowledgeable and the space is also available for rental for shows if you’re good enough to venture forward and put one on for the public.
The performance space itself is a black box theatre, with stackable chairs and a stage close to the audience allowing you to feel that you’re a part of the action. Which, if you’re there seeing an improv show, you more than will be. It’s location also provides you with a myriad places to go before and after for a bite and a drink if you need be. Bad Dog Theatre is definitely becoming a big dog to deal with on the improv street.